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SummerWinds HealingBreezes(right now, that's really just me and my beloved, who is recruited to come wildcrafting any chance I get, and who also helps with some of the 'butch' labor in the garden) is located in a rural area of Germany, surrounded by pristine forests. We don't even know what government spraying IS. I originally learned 'herbs' from my Grandmother. Here in Germany, many of us grow up with it, and it's an accepted way of healing, way before one considers seeing a doctor. It has always been part of my life, and from simple teas and homemade salves, poultices and food remedies, my own formulas have evolved over the decades. Everything I make and know has been perfected through trial and error, personal experience, and the teaching of old lore. Then came the internet, and with it, the access to gifted herbalists around the world, many of them eager to pass on their knowledge. I have not had 'formal' training, and whilst I sometimes wonder how nice it would be to have certificates on the wall, I simply didn't take the time. The woods and herbs are calling, and being out there seems so much more educational than being in a classroom :) Of course, there are tons of books on my shelves, thousands of reference documents and links on my harddrive (and study group), but mostly, I let my herbs tell me what I need to know I have been a practicing herbalist and organic gardener for quite a number of years now, and launched the internet portion of my 'hobby' in 2000. Everything else just snowballed from there. Most of my own formulas were created out of personal need, so you can safely assume that I used each product, can tell you everything about it, and am more than willing to alter them to meet your personal needs. Can you say dermatitis, contact allergies up the yang, FMS, and chemical oversensitivity? I need ALL of my special potions to just feel human. Doc Schulze and Maria Treben are famous in their own right and don't require explanations :) Many fellow students and new herbalists kept asking for sample potions to judge their first attempts against, or simply didn't feel comfortable yet making their own healthcare products (we'll get them next year), so instead of constantly trying to figure out what I had and what it cost I finally gave into the idea of a small business side of our study venture. I hope you came here through the HerbalHealers-International studygroup, but if you stumbled on my little garden by chance, please do visit our online study portion (click on the study site link at bottom of page, which will bring you to the SummerWinds Herbal Healing Center) when you're done browsing. One of the main objectives for our Studygroup was to build a reliable, environmentally active network of small, home based herbal resources. We've come a looong way in the last 6 years and are constantly testing new suppliers which often become fellow students and friends in the process. From time to time I snatch up extra treasures as I buy them for myself, and offer limited amounts of those special items (like stainless steel funnels and such other have-to-haves) for my fellow herbalists. If you are browsing the Summerwinds source pages on the teaching section (SW Herbal Healing Center) and find better deals, we're delighted if you take the time to let us know! This venture isn't just about profit, it's about sharing. The infused oils are sunsteeped way beyond the normal time frame, usually all summer. The herb volume used is between 70-95% herb ratio (see individual listings) as opposed to 1-5, so you could cut these oils and tinctures down with say, half aloe gel, and STILL have an end product many times stronger than what you'd find on commercial shelfs. Please keep that in mind when choosing dosage. The exact proportions and times are included with each listed herb. Recipes are displayed for private use only. My personal formulas are copyrighted against commercial use (that means you can make tons to roll in, but not 1 gram to sell), the Famous Formulas are free game of course. I am also what some would call a 'green witch', the equivalent of the old time village healer. In the herbal community that means to grow and wildcraft environmentally save, which also explains the limited quantity of herbs and potions available. I make available what Momma can spare, not what I can get. We live in harmony with our surroundings and preserve the balance at all cost. Additionally, I strongly believe and enforce that if Gramma didn't have to use chemicals, neither do we want anything to do with it. And I mean, ANYthing. Anywhere. That includes preservatives, therefore the products have limited shelf life, although natural preservatives are added (after much time and research), like vitamin E, various essential oils, vegetable glycerin, propolis, or benzoin gum tincture. And we always end up sharing what we have learned. If we don't want to buy care products in a supermarket, why should we expect YOU to? So we went semi-commercial selling what's left over. That goes from seasonal herbs (which explains the small-amount-only availability) to small amounts of precious items (i.e. tropical herbs or roots and barks) from our certified organic bulk suppliers, almost exclusively pacific botanicals where I order co-op for study group members. This way, we all get best possible prices without sitting on a whole pound. Ask me if you need something, I always have an order of hard to find items 'going' and am happy to share for no additional cost. I'll try to accomodate you as much as possible, up to and including to teaching you how to make it yourself if you liked the product you bought (I'll never get rich this way, but boy am I getting karma points :). Since the business site is still in its crawling stages, I am not prepared to accept credit cards or deal with any other mechanical gizmos. I can't even handle checks (wire transfers or direct deposits are okay, as are money orders, but paypal is easiest). Keep in mind salves are made fresh in small amounts and take 1-2 days to prepare (often you get lucky and a batch was just prepared). On the up side, you will always get answers to your questions and lots of time invested until you are happy with your order. That ought to count for something :) BUT: I am proud to announce that as of autumn 2005, Neem Tree Farms in Florida is carrying the staples of SW's HealingBreezes naturals (with more to come as we progress). For those of you in the states that will be a fabulous stop to get yours fast :) Have a look at their lovely side (and lovely products - I use their Aloe & Neem lotion myself, and I'm normally allergic to EVERYthing...) at:  Yes, I finally took the leap of faith (after so many people kept saying you know, you really should make more of these), quit my government job, went on a year 'sabattical' setting this up, and am now looking forward to being able to survive :) Its been a wonderful journey, and I don't regret it for a minute, although I work much longer hours now, and do not get as much vacation time. Lets hope this will be a go. So far, it looks pretty good, but its still small operation These days, you find the green ones everywhere, in the punky kid in the garden store, or the old crone kneeling in her garden in knickers…. Neither one worries about what you think about her appearance. Course, not all of us are nuts, (we prefer to call it excentric), but we 'non-conformists' sure are the majority. But we are also, as a rule, quite grounded and happy to be alive. That shows in the products we make. Harvested and formulated according to the moon phases, with thanks given to the plant, and lots of loving in the making. My wildcrafted herbs come exclusively from forrest meadows and ditches in the middle of nowhere, with the assistance of my trusty steed 'Chance' who not only carrys me there, but patiently munches the goods (not the exact SAME plant - he finds his own, but usually loves what I'm about to harvest. The clover we fight for with furious shoving. He usually gets more than me while I end up on my butt) while I scamper about, and then faithfully slugs it all home. Packbags are a great thing.  Some areas would have been virtually unreachable without him. His reward is being alive and happy (he's in his mid 20's and was scheduled for the butcher at age 17 when I rescued him, due to major arthritis and hoof rot). He also gets to eat the herbs left over from the previous season while he's stabled during winter, and last but not least, during which time he provides the nutricious pebbles (aka horseshit) my gardenbeds thrive on. Feel free to contact me at healingbreezes@gmail.com If I can't help you myself, you can bet I know someone who can and will pass you along to a friend and fellow herbalist. If you are still hunting for something else, check the links page, it contains a few or my trusted herbalist friends from our studygroup, also home operators. |